Darkest Hour
What’s it about?
Handed the poison chalice of leading a country facing imminent invasion by the undefeatable Nazis, the man responsible for the catastrophe at Gallipoli fights on all fronts: denigrators within his own government, Nazi forces amassing in France, and his own inner demons.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: A stirring portrayal of the first days of Winston Churchill rule in WWII, this is no dry history lesson: the script energetically spotlights the politics and perils of leadership and the immense influence of rhetoric. Gary Oldman’s acting masterclass (in his overdue Oscar-winning role) is equally supported by a quality cast (Ben Mendelsohn’s portrayal of King George VI is particularly noteworthy); the uneasy, claustrophobic atmosphere created by Wright’s clever direction, shot-framing and editing; and the niggling social commentary on the little people being toyed with by the power brokers from above.
If a movie is this finely crafted does it matter if its Oscar-bait?
Goodbye Christopher Robin
What’s it about?
Returning from The Great War, Blue (AA Milne) finds it hard to readjust to ‘proper’ society and moves his family to the country where he plans to write a protest book against war. When his wife flees back to the social lifestyle of the city and their nanny abandons him, a bonding with his son Billie (Christopher Robin) changes not only his objectives, but his perspective.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: like a swan, there’s a deceptive volume of activity in Goodbye Christopher Robin: aside from the obvious origins of the classic stories on the surface, there are reflections on the brutality and futility of war, the loss of self brought on by fame, the impersonal relationships caused by the rigid class society of early 20th century Britain, and the brutal consequences that PTSD and post-natal depression have on families.
Like a swan, all of these subplots weave together seamlessly into a charming, heartfelt narrative that paints a picture of a family trying to find the happiness they gifted to the world.
Charming, beautiful and heartbreaking.
Justice League
What’s it about?
The heroes of the (DC) world have to unite to stop an alien invasion.
What did we think?
It’s not great but it’s a lot of fun. I think it’s time Warner Bros/DC call time on the Zack Snyder experiment. His ability to take characters of hope and drag them into a darkness is one thing but it’s time to admit that while he presents nice aesthetics, his ability to tell a story is actually poor. I wanted to like Justice League. Heck, I wanted to love it. And while there was enough to keep me hopeful, it has to be said this movie just didn’t deliver.
After a slow, almost mandatory introduction of the characters it builds to an expected fight scene that remind them of the need to work together. All too predictable but ok. But it then leads to another all-to-similar fight scene that, if anything, was anti-climactic and had no real feel of danger or consequence.
And while they finally showed signs of capturing the essence of one character they’ve constantly missed in recent films, it comes at the expense of Batman who is relegated to little more than a bystander in the fights.
Don’t get me wrong – as I said before there’s some fun here. There’s even some good banter and dialogue (though also some painful stuff too). But what should have been a celebration of the finest collection of heroes comes off as a little flat. Neither comedy or drama, Justice League just doesn’t build up to anything.
Still, at least it’s better than the atrocious Man Of Steel and poor Batman v Superman.
Wonder
What’s it about?
A young boy born with facial genetic defects finally goes to a mainstream school where he and his family face a gamut of reaction.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Thankfully this wasn’t as tear-inducing as the trailer suggested though it does tug at the heart strings. Wonderfully this isn’t just about Auggie – the boy whose face inspires heartbreaking reactions. It focuses heavily on family and new friends and their actions and motivations. What could have been a semi-light feel-good flick actually becomes something much more with some interesting explorations of human reactions and the reasons behind it. The whys of how we treat each other are possibly even more important than the actual treatment.
This is a story younger people should be made to see.
Unfortunately an unnecessarily saccharine moment at the end threatens to sugarcoat things but it nonetheless remains a movie that will inspire thought and conversation about the very real failings and strengths of human beings.
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The Old Man & the Gun
What’s it about?
Well you see there’s a Detective who’s just hit 40 and is questioning what to do with his life. Then there’s a widower living her dreams, but wondering if she’s doing everything she’s meant to. And then there’s this old guy who’s just trying to be the best travelling salesmen he can be. Or maybe he’s lying about that and really just likes to rob banks. Whichever one he is, he’s a charmer.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Surprisingly, for a ‘mostly true’ tale about a charming criminal, this is a story about ordinary people. It’s a love story, and it’s about finding happiness by doing what you love.
There is a delightful attention to detail in the telling of this tale, which, coupled with Redford’s brazen confidence as the untouchable Forrest Tucker, weaves a story that confounds you with contradictions of character.
After all, is a thief really that bad a person if he’s stolen your heart?
Footnote: If you think this review goes a bridge too far with references to a certain legend’s career, wait till you see how the river runs through this flick. You’d need all the Presidents men to help you unravel the sting.
Bohemian Rhapsody
What’s it about?
A chronicle of one of the most influential rock-pop bands of the 20th century, Queen and its flamboyant lead singer Freddie Mercury. Focusing more on Freddie, this biopic ranges from the group forming from the remnants of SMILE and provides glimpses of the years leading up to Queen’s legendary appearance at the Live Aid (1985) concert.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Imagine flicking through a thick, detailed book about the history of Queen and Freddie Mercury. Not reading: just flicking through and reading a page or so at random here and there. And then flicking backwards occasionally so you’re reading out of order. That’s kind of what you get with Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s still fascinating but feels somewhat superficial and you can’t help but feel it should have been more. The movie takes liberties with chronology both musically and factually which will annoy a diehard Queen fan, but it has to be said it’s still a satisfying movie emotionally. The performances are fantastic, the music is electrifying and the heart is there even if finer details aren’t. The exploration of the paradox that was Freddie – a flamboyant performer who off-stage was shy and never identified as cool – is going to be enough for most as the familiar songs paper over a lot of the cracks. The adherence to a formulaic biopic is irritating – and almost UnFreddie like – but I enjoyed it despite the failings.
My biggest criticism was that the ending isn’t right. Frustratingly, a simple info card covering the six years between where the film ended and the info card they did display, would have addressed the issues. If you’re a Queen fan you might be disappointed with points here and there but not the overall picture. 4/5
Amy Curran says: This long-awaited film didn’t quite rock me. The music is great, of course – it’s the script that’s the problem. It’s all obvious foreshadowing, simplified characters and cinematic licence. While it dutifully checks off its mandatory rock movie moments, it does so in a very timid, overly respectful way. Any hint of debauchery is politely alluded to rather than explicitly depicted, and the film suffers for it. That said, Malek is excellent, his bandmates are well cast (Gwilym Lee’s Brian May is particularly spot on) and the incredibly faithful re-creation of the 1985 Live Aid concert at Wembley stadium is truly spectacular. Despite its flaws, it’s worth seeing. 3/5
Andrew Danyals says: Queen had not one, not two but three albums of greatest hits. Trying to choose a small list of favourite songs would be like trying to fit twenty years of fascinating and often bizarre stories into a single film. It’s inevitable that this biopic glosses over so many things. In fact there are so many things they just leave out altogether (where is the legendary Bowie studio meeting? Or Michael Jackson and his llama? The dwarves were alluded to but not shown!). Despite this, BoRap is a great movie. Not because of anything technical – there it sometimes fails – but because it taps into your emotions. You lose yourself in Rami Malek’s incredible portrayal of Freddie and you lose yourself in the music. And that’s all that really matters. Love Queen? See the movie. 4.6/5
Halloween
What’s it about?
Mike Myers (the bad one) returns to Haddonfield to wreak havoc on the one night of the year that it feels mostly okay to do so.
What did we think?
Nick John Bleeker says: I walked into the cinema thinking I could handle it and came out of the cinema so horribly wrong. Halloween doesn’t really present anything too fresh, but Jamie Lee Curtis is great and David Gordon Green’s handle on the source material is incredibly solid, and I did kinda shit myself thanks to some of the scares.
3.5 / 5 stars
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
What’s it about?
While cleaning junk out of an old, abandoned house just before Halloween, some kids come across an old book and a ventriloquist dummy named Slappy. Spooky chaos ensues. Jack Black eventually turns up.
What did we think?
James Tinniswood says: ERMAGERD, GERSBERMS TER
I HERF TER ADMERT *clears throat* I have to admit I liked this more than I thought I would. It does have a bit of a “made-for-Nickelodeon sequel” feel, but it zips along at a good pace and I was never bored. And I liked that it (mostly) plays like a standalone Goosebumps story to the point where it (almost) didn’t need to go back to the meta “RL Stine is a character” well … until it does and reminds you it’s a sequel.
The kind of movie I would have liked the first Goosebumps to be and the third Jumanji to be. “Goosemanji”. Sony, call me, let’s talk.
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